Division One leaders Portsmouth were held to their fifth draw in six games in the Watford mud.

Harry Redknapp's men looked calm and composed in the first half but Watford made them scrap every inch of the way in a rip-roaring second period.

Micah Hyde put the Hornets ahead after 50 minutes but two goals inside four minutes from Deon Burton and Kevin Harper looked to have given Pompey the edge until Neil Cox popped up with the equaliser 10 minutes from time.

Portsmouth suffered a serious blow as early as the second minute when Arjan de Zeeuw was forced to leave the field with a foot injury.

The visitors had penalty appeals waved aside when Svetoslav Todorov went to ground under challenge from Neal Ardley after a powerful run into the Watford box.

But it was Watford who threatened next and Kevin Harper was booked after unfairly halting Heidar Helguson's progress.

Watford were full of fight and spirit but Pompey looked the class act and after another flowing move in the 23rd minute Nigel Quashie forced Alec Chamberlain into a good save.

But Watford suddenly posed a threat to the cool visitors when Hyde burst into the box after 42 minutes and it took a timely challenge from Hayden Foxe to deny Gifton Noel-Williams a scoring return to the starting line-up after nine months out through injury.

Watford stormed into the attack at the start of the second half, putting Portsmouth under real pressure for the first time.

Helguson twice missed gilt-edged chances to score from close range as the leaders were rocked back on their heels.

But the pressure finally paid off after 50 minutes when Jermaine Pennant jinked to the byline and crossed for Hyde to run the ball home.

Their lead lasted just three minutes, however. Harper, Todorov and Quashie combined excellently down the right to set up Burton who lashed home the equaliser from six yards.

Just four minutes later the visitors took the lead. Harper took advantage of a weak clearance from Chamberlain and waltzed into the box before curling a left-foot shot into the corner of the net.

Pompey brought on Paul Merson in place of Todorov with 10 minutes remaining but immediately on the restart Watford pulled level. A long throw-in from Allan Nielsen was headed on by Helguson and Cox was on hand to nod home from close range.

Teams

Watford: Chamberlain, Ardley, Cox, Gayle, Brown, Pennant (Tommy Smith 74), Hyde, Vernazza (Nielsen 73), Robinson (McNamee 66), Noel-Williams, Helguson.

Subs Not Used: Lee, Mahon.

Goals: Hyde 51, Cox 81.

Portsmouth: Hislop, Primus, Foxe, De Zeeuw (Crowe 6), O'Neil, Diabate, Quashie, Harper, Taylor, Burton (Pericard 60), Todorov (Merson 80).

Subs Not Used: Stone, Kawaguchi.

Booked: Harper.

Goals: Burton 54, Harper 58.

Att: 15,048

Ref: P Rejer (Worcestershire).